Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov criticized on Monday a U.S. plan to deploy a missile defense system in central Europe, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"We consider that the U.S. strategic missile defense system is a destabilizing factor that may considerably affect regional and global security," Serdyukov said after talks with his U.S. counterpart Robert Gates, who arrived here early Monday.

The United States plans to deploy a missile defense radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The 3.5 billion-U.S. dollar project is set to start operating by 2011.

Russia has rejected the plan, alleging its real target will not be Iran as Washington has claimed, but Moscow.

The Pentagon has reportedly offered to share data with Russia and technology of the system, and allow Russian officials to inspect the bases in a bid to ease Moscow's worries.

But "Russia's position on the issue remains unchanged," Serdyukov said, noting "special attention should be paid to discussions on the deployment of the U.S. missile defense facilities in Europe."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also discuss the U. S. plans with his counterparts from the NATO member countries in Oslo on Thursday.

"The bilateral contacts going on between Moscow and Washington . .. have not removed our concerns so far," Itar-Tass quoted Lavrov as saying at a meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin.

During the two ministers' meeting, Russia also expressed concern over the U.S. use of intercontinental ballistic missiles with non-nuclear warheads.

The two sides "considered prospects for the development of a new agreement in the sphere of strategic weapons reduction," Itar- Tass said, citing Serdyukov.

But the issue of signing a new strategic arms control agreement was not discussed in detail at talks, the Interfax news agency reported, citing Gates.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, expressed satisfaction over the Russia-U.S. relations during his meeting with Gates and his phone conversation with U.S. counterpart George W. Bush later that day.

"It is pleasant that an intensive political season is opening in the Russian-American relations," he said.

The President also expressed concern over the building-up of U. S. armed forces in Eastern Europe, in particular new U.S. bases in Romania and Bulgaria, Interfax said, citing Gates who added that the atmosphere at the meetings was business-like and positive.

Gates will visits Poland and Germany after his stop in Moscow.

Source: Xinhua